Fellow researchers, as a scholar, historian and professor emeritus at Austin College, I have taught and written about Texas history for more than four decades. In doing this work, I've relied extensively on primary source materials to help illustrate and bring the rich history of our state alive. Content within UNT Libraries' Portal to Texas History does just that! The Portal has brought Texas' history to my fingertips, further augmenting my class presentations, with key images that inspire students and encourage lively discussion. Simply put, the Portal to Texas History is transforming how we research, write and teach Texas history!
Something so worthwhile cannot exist without significant investments from the university and our philanthropic community. For this reason, I personally support the Portal to Texas History, because I love the great state of Texas and its rich, colorful history. As 2018 draws to a close, and in this season of giving, I ask you to join me in helping UNT Libraries meet their NEH Challenge goal. Please join me in making a gift to support the Portal to Texas History!

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UpFRONT

The CountdownOne year ends. Another year begins. Whether you'rea philosopher or a partier, it's a time to consideryour options. Celebrate? Contemplate? There's nota wrong choice.For Texas Highways, 2014 is an important mile-stone because it marks 40 years since this monthlybecame a travel magazine. That transition took place in 1974. Beforethat, Texas Highways was, as its name literally suggests, more aboutthe highways themselves. As Editor Frank Lively (whose first and lastnames could be adjectives for his own views) suggested at the time,Texans are amazingly loyal to their state and they want to know moreabout it. Fortunately for us today, Frank and company did a great job inthose early years and attracted an abundance of loyal readers. In fact,some of those folks are still reading Texas Highways today.How will the magazine celebrate its birthday? We started the an-niversary celebration a little early with a com-Win a plete redesign, which premiered a few monthsFrederichsbufg ago in the September issue. At that point, we saidprize package. the celebration should continue throughout 2014,Details on and one way we're making that happen is with apage 11. monthly countdown to our readers' choice for fa-vorite travel destination in the state.The voting is now over. Early results have included a bundle of sur-prises. One was the number of handwritten notes we received. Whenwe started the process, I'd have wagered that we'd receive mostly on-line votes through social media and email, so I'm glad I didn't placea bet on it. After all, the vast majority of reader comments these dayscome to us via Facebook. But we've received hundreds of votes writ-ten with some fascinating personal details.Regardless of how the final tally comes in, the one absolute conclu-sion is that Texas Highways readers genuinely love this state and wantto share their opinions.We're going to start sharing the winners in the January issue; it issafe to say you will see a few unexpected results throughout the year.For example, I was genuinely amazed at the out-of-the-way places-and even individual buildings and businesses-that are all-time fa-vorite destinations for some of Texas Highways' readers.Stay tuned for 2014. You'll learn about even more intriguing placesto travel in the Lone Star State.

WHERE WE'LLBE NEXT MONTH:The results are in^kick-off to 2014'sTexas Top-40countdownWe'll also gofly-fishing in Sattler,and discover hiddengems at the TexasChallenge geo-caching mega-event.M r Wee kesip otDr Pepper in Waco,JP

Charles Lohrmann, Publisher

WHERE TO FIN( USDrop us a line anytime at letters05@texashighways.com.Find us on Facebook and Twitter.